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The Classic Self-Portrait

Join artist and teacher Kerry Dunn for a masterful overview of oil painting techniques as you create a classic self-portrait.

Delve into the relationships between shapes, objects and hues that you see in the mirror without struggling to recreate the scene in front of you with each new session. First you'll make a value exercise depicting layers of light and shadows surrounding a ball before advancing to a self-portrait consisting of oil paints in a double primary palette (a warm and cool version of each primary, plus white). Along the way you'll learn to how to seamlessly blend wet and dry paint and incorporate valuable details that bring your portrait to life.

Lesson plan

Lesson 1. Setting Up

Meet Kerry Dunn and learn how to set up your tools and studio for a comfortable and efficient work station.

28:36

Lesson 2. Underpainting in Grisaille

Develop an underpainting with Kerry's expert tips as you learn to establish lines, angles, shapes and major shadows.

17:53

Lesson 3. Light on the Ball Exercise

Explore varying layers of light and shadow in an elegantly simple exercise that you'll apply to all of your future paintings.

20:32

Lesson 4. Light & Shadow

Shed preconceived notions about what you "should" paint and paint what you truly see as you block in light and shadows.

18:34

Lesson 5. Expanding the Value Range

Kerry helps you develop a strong eye for defining value ranges in your portrait, working through challenges as you go.

18:05

Lesson 6. Introducing Color

Rediscover color in an entirely new way as Kerry walks you through theory and various techniques.

24:31

Lesson 7. Blocking & Adjusting Color

Take color a step further as you block in and define your color, working more in-depth with flesh tones, shadows and light.

12:09

Lesson 8. Blocking in for the Final Pass

Continuing to define your painting, working with edges and learn how to re-work areas that have dried.

40:24

Lesson 9. Defining the Details

Approach your portrait with new eyes as you correct, adjust and highlight various areas in a final pass.

14:44

Lesson 10. Reviewing the Process

Learn how to apply the techniques you've learned to future projects, and gain inspiration on how to bring your portraits to life.

"Very impressed with this class. I love the way Kerry organized this course, He makes it very easy to follow and understand his thought process from beginning to end." - wgb06201660588

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Lesson plan

19:55

Lesson 1. Setting Up

Meet Kerry Dunn and learn how to set up your tools and studio for a comfortable and efficient work station.

28:36

Lesson 2. Underpainting in Grisaille

Develop an underpainting with Kerry's expert tips as you learn to establish lines, angles, shapes and major shadows.

17:53

Lesson 3. Light on the Ball Exercise

Explore varying layers of light and shadow in an elegantly simple exercise that you'll apply to all of your future paintings.

20:32

Lesson 4. Light & Shadow

Shed preconceived notions about what you "should" paint and paint what you truly see as you block in light and shadows.

18:34

Lesson 5. Expanding the Value Range

Kerry helps you develop a strong eye for defining value ranges in your portrait, working through challenges as you go.

18:05

Lesson 6. Introducing Color

Rediscover color in an entirely new way as Kerry walks you through theory and various techniques.

24:31

Lesson 7. Blocking & Adjusting Color

Take color a step further as you block in and define your color, working more in-depth with flesh tones, shadows and light.

12:09

Lesson 8. Blocking in for the Final Pass

Continuing to define your painting, working with edges and learn how to re-work areas that have dried.

40:24

Lesson 9. Defining the Details

Approach your portrait with new eyes as you correct, adjust and highlight various areas in a final pass.

14:44

Lesson 10. Reviewing the Process

Learn how to apply the techniques you've learned to future projects, and gain inspiration on how to bring your portraits to life.

The instructor

Kerry Dunn, Instructor of The Classic Self-Portrait

Named as one of American Artist Magazine's "25 Artists of Tomorrow" in 2012, Kerry Dunn is a representational oil painter and traditional oil painting teacher in Philadelphia, PA. Dunn approaches teaching with a focus on the core principles of drawing and painting. His work is featured in various galleries across the country and typically consists of portraits, sill life, figure and plein air works.

Ratings & reviews

Class rating

(13 reviews)

Envelope Construction

by mnipam on July 1, 2015

How to construct the head using simplified angles and then repeating the process for smaller shapes was fascinating to watch and very well explained.

How to construct the head using simplified angles and then repeating the process for smaller shapes was fascinating to watch and very well explained.

Great Ideas And Thought Process

by rlhood39 on May 31, 2015

I enjoy hearing your thoughts and reasonings as you demonstrate The painting techniques.It helps me to understand what to look for and interpret shapes in lights and shadows.Thank you

I enjoy hearing your thoughts and reasonings as you demonstrate The painting techniques.It helps me to understand what to look for and interpret shapes in lights and shadows.Thank you

Great teacher!

by billiefaye on April 30, 2015

Kerry Dunn self portrait

by dennis.re5647165 on April 20, 2015

Tremendous instruction! Love it.

Tremendous instruction! Love it.

Kerry Does A Great Job Breaking Down The Fundamentals

by tdwbosox5888012 on January 19, 2015

No matter your level of experience, you can benefit from his straight forward approach to building form.

No matter your level of experience, you can benefit from his straight forward approach to building form.